Multiple pocket envelope



6, 1968 R. D. ALLISON 3,395,851

MULT IPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Filed July 5, 1967 I /7 p n n W INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. ALLISON @Z W a M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,395,851 MULTIPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Robert D. Allison, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,897 4 Claims. (Cl. 22972) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is of a multiple pocket envelope made from a unitary blank including a front panel, side flaps folded against the front panel and a rear panel folded against the front panel and adhesively joined to the side flaps and having a slotted window opening therethrough. A horizontal adhesive strip extending generally from one side flap to the other joins the front and rear panels and divides them into upper and lower sections which cooperate to form at least two pockets, the lower pocket being accessible through a window or slot cut in the rear panel lower section. A closure panel or flap serves as a closure for both pockets. Optionally, additional vertical adhesive strips may be provided to join the front and rear panel sections along vertical lines to form a number of smaller pockets.

Background of invention This invention relates in general to envelopes and deals more particularly with a multiple pocket envelope formed from a unitary blank.

The general aim of the invention is to provide an improved multiple pocket envelope particularly adapted to carry merchandise coupons, stamps, coins and the like. The envelope may, for example, serve as both a receptacle in which coupons are accumulated and a mailing container for coupons after a requisite number have been saved for redemption purposes.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide an envelope of the aforedescribed type suited to economical automatic machine production.

Summary of invention In accordance with the present invention an envelope is provided wherein an adhesive strip serves to join the front and rear panels thereof in such a manner that the two panels are respectively divided into upper and lower sections. The upper sections cooperate to form an upper pocket and the lower sections cooperate in like manner to form a lower pocket, the lower pocket being accessible through an opening in the lower section of the rear panel. A closure panel or flap forming an integral part of the unitary blank from which the envelope is made serves as a closure for both pockets.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple pocket envelope embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the envelope of FIG. 1 is formed, the blank being shown before folding.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the envelope blank of FIG. 2 but shows the side flaps folded over against the front panel thereof and adhesive lines applied to the rear panel thereof.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but shows the rear panel folded to its assembled position.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multiple pocket envelope embodying the present invention and indicated generally at 10 is formed from a unitary blank 12. The blank 12 is die cut from any suitable paper stock and essentially comprises a front panel 14, a rear panel 16, and a closure panel 18. Preferably, as shown, it also includes two side flaps 20 and 22. The front panel 14 is generally rectangular and has an upper edge, a lower edge and two side edges defined respectively by fold or score lines 24, 26, 28 and 30. The remaining panels and flaps are also generally rectangular but if desired may be cut to various other slightly different shapes without departing from the invention. The two side flaps 20 and 22 are narrow in the horizontal direction, as viewed in the figures, and are joined to the front panel 14 along the fold lines 28 and 30. These side flaps are first folded into overlying relation with the rear surface of the front panel 14 and serve to connect the rear panel 16 with the front panel as will be hereinafter evident.

The rear panel 16 is slightly narrower in width than the front panel 14 and is joined thereto along the fold line 26. An elongtaed opening or slot 32 is provided in the rear panel and extends horizontally, or in the direction generally parallel to the score line 26, across substantially the full horizontal dimension of the panel. A plurality of scallop recesses 34, 34 are cut in the free edge of the rear panel located opposite the score line 26. Each recess 34 is associated with a respective one of the pockets formed in the upper part of the envelope and aids in indicating the presence of such pockets and in opening the pocket with a finger.

Before the rear panel 16 is folded into position along its fold line 24 strips of adhesive are applied thereto. These adhesive strips include vertical strips 36 and 38 which are respectively applied adjacent the two free side edges of the rear panel 16. Another horizontal adhesive strip 40 is applied to the panel 16 between the slot 32 and the recessed free edge thereof and is located close to the edge of the slot. In its folded position, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear panel 16 is secured to the side flaps 22 and 24 by the adhesive strips 34 and 36 and to the rear surface of the front panel by the strip 40. From FIG. 4 it will be noted that in the finished envelope the opening 32 divides the rear panel 16 into upper and lower sections 42 and 44. The horizontal adhesive line 40 joins the lower portion of the upper section 42 to the rear surface of the front panel 14 and defines the lower edge of an upper pocket further defined by portions of the front panel 14, the side flaps 16 and 18 and the rear panel upper section 42, the mouth of the pocket being located near the upper edge of the front panel. Similarly, the lower section 44 cooperates with portions of the front panel 14 and the side panels 16 and 18 to form a lower pocket which is accessible through the slot 32, the mouth of such pocket being located adjacent the slot 32. Optionally, and as shown, additional vertical adhesive strips 46, 48, and 52 are provided and connect the front and rear panels to divide the otherwise two large upper and lower pockets into a number of smaller pockets designated by the numerals 54 through 59 in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The closure panel 18 is joined to the front panel along the fold line 24 and is of such a size that when folded along the line 24 to a closed position overlying the rear panel 16 its free edge 60 is positioned some distance below the slot 32. A strip 62 of remoistenable adhesive is provided adjacent the edge 60 to permit the closure panel to be sealed to the lower section 44 of the rear panel.

I claim:

1. A multiple pocket envelope made from a unitary blank and comprising a generally rectangular front panel having upper and lower and side edges, a rear panel joined to said front panel along said lower edge thereof and folded along said lower edge into directly adjacent 3 i overlying relation Witlithfi rear surface of said front panel'so as-to be in general face to face contact therewith said rear panel having a single elongated horizontal slot therethrough extending generally from one side edge of said rear panel to the other and dividing said rear panel into upper and lower sections, means directly attaching said rear panel to said front panel along a horizontal line extending generally from one of said side edges'to the other near the lower portion of said upper section, and means connecting said side edges of said front panel to said rear panel so that said upper section of said rear panel cooperates with said front panel to form at least one upper pocket having a mouth near said upper edge of said front panel and so that said lower section of said rear panel cooperates with said front panel to form at least one lower pocket having a mouth adjacent said slot.

'2. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by a closure panel joined to said front panel along said upper edge thereof and foldable along said upper edge intoa closed position at which it overlies said rear panel and closes the mouth of said upper pocket.

3. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said closure panel being of such size that when in said closed position it extends downwardly beyond and covers said slot.

4. A multiple pocket envelope as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by means directly attaching connecting said front panel to said rear panel along at least one vertical line located intermediate said side edges of said front panel and extending vertically across at least one of said pockets to divide such pocket into a number of smaller pockets.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

